DAILY BRIDGE CLUB:

“I think Grapefruit may be mellowing a bit,” a regular kibitzer of my club’s penny game told me.

Grapefruit is our most voluble player. He finds fault as if it’s buried treasure and badgers his partners mercilessly.

The kibitzer had witnessed today’s deal. Against four spades, West led the queen of hearts, and dummy played low. Grapefruit discouraged with the deuce as East, but West led another heart.

“South ruffed,” the kibitzer said, “took the A-K of trumps and led a club from dummy: nine, queen, king. He ruffed the next heart, drew the missing trump and cashed the ace of clubs. When Grapefruit’s jack fell, declarer claimed.”

“What did Grapefruit say?” I asked.

“‘Partner, you played some of those cards very well.’”

After Grapefruit’s deuce of hearts, West should shift to a diamond at Trick Two. But when Grapefruit plays the nine on the first club, West must certainly let South’s queen win. South can’t use dummy’s long clubs and loses a heart, two diamonds and a club.

DAILY QUESTION: You hold: ♠ 85 ♥ A9872◆ KQ95 ♣ J 9. Your partner opens one club, you respond one heart and he raises to two hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: This decision is close. Give partner a sound minimum with good threecard heart support such as

A43,KQ5,63,A8653, and four hearts will be a fair contract. If he has A 4 3, K Q54,63,a865,thatgame contract will be a big favorite. Bid four hearts if vulnerable, with more to gain, or raise to three hearts if not.